Five Great Resources to Prepare Your Heart for Easter

I don't know about you, but holidays have a tendency to sneak up on me.  And if I'm not careful, my heart can be left cold and unprepared.

So for the past few years, I have purposed to prepare my heart, my home, and my table for Easter...the most joyous day on the Christian calendar!

If you'd like to join me in preparing for the Easter season, here are five great resources that God has used to minister to me and my family:

1) Treasuring God in Our Traditions (Chapter 9 - Especially Easter) by Noel Piper

Noel Piper has some great suggestions for helping your family focus on Christ during the Easter season. We have incorporated lenten advent candles in our home, as well as her devotional entitled "Lenten Lights." As the kids grow older, we may end up incorporating some of her more kid-friendly suggestions as well.

Our lenten lights all lit on Easter morning because "He is Risen!"

2) Lenten Lights by Noel Piper

Eight biblical devotionals to prepare for Easter (to be used weekly during lent OR daily during Holy Week).

3) Three Meaningful Easter Activities for Kids by Courtney of Women Living Well 

I love how Courtney is always seeking new ways to show Christ to her kiddos.  I can't wait to introduce resurrection eggs and easter story cookies to my little ones someday.  Confession...before we even had kids, I found myself making her resurrection rolls on Easter Sunday.  Such a beautiful visual reminder of our Savior's glorious resurrection!

Photo from Women Living Well

4) "Risen" album by Sovereign Grace Music

As a singer, God often ministers to me through music, so I'm always on the lookout for good, theologically-sound worship music.  This album is specifically designed to get us thinking about the Risen King!  Straight from the album cover...

"'He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.'

These words, spoken by an angel to the women at Jesus’s tomb, changed history forever. Christ’s resurrection was more than a display of raw supernatural power. It was the single event that assures us that his payment for our sins has been accepted. God’s wrath is satisfied. Death is defeated. The powers of darkness are overcome. Sin’s dominion has been broken. And the life of the age to come has dawned.

The songs on this album celebrate these realities, experienced and enjoyed by all who place their faith and hope in Jesus Christ."

5) Holy Week Series by Justin Taylor

A few years ago, Justin Taylor (Gospel Coalition blogger, editor at Crossway and elder at New Covenant Bible Church) put together what he called "an attempted harmony/chronology of the words and actions of Jesus in the final week of his pre-resurrection life."   Each day, he walks you through what actually happened on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, etc.  In the past, I have enjoyed this walk through the gospels leading up to Resurrection Sunday, and I really like that he's done the legwork for me!

Do you have any resources to add?  Sound off in the comments section!